And 48 days later, Griezmann returned to play. 48 days after suffering that relapse that stuck in Cholo’s head. For what it hurt, losing his best soccer player, the one he trusts the most, indefinitely. For what it meant, coming ahead, the game against Barça, United. The return of him was considered in principle in a month. But that month began to pass very slowly. Griezmann was trying to take steps but he couldn’t. The injury, in the hamstring, so fundamental in his football. For the power, for the start. Griezmann one day put on the cleated boots and another day he returned to the smooth.
Griezmann was late, the month was passing. February 6 arrived. The Camp Nou, his return, the match for a Champions position, against Barça, a direct rival, and Griezmann was not there, and Griezmann did not arrive. His ischium was missing. The doubt was a fear: United? That was the need, the fear, but Cholo didn’t need to hold on to that: Griezmann came back al fin, to the grass (against Osasuna it had only been a bench).
But the french is back, with what that means. Goals, flight, clarity. Precisely against that United that guided his soccer dreams as a child. He left his hair long for his Beckham, he plays with long sleeves for that too, he played with them on that show on French TV, six out of ten against seven-ten rojiblanco, He already works with his head in the lap. He was able to score yesterday, at 11 ‘of the return. The stick got in the way. Another story awaits in Manchester. Even if he wears his hair short, even if there are days, games, that he no longer plays with long sleeves.